It will be a repeat of the Group A clash when Tajikistan revived their hopes of advancing to the knockout stage after holding Japan 0-0 but the final, said Litfuallev, will be a different ball game altogether.

“Japan are a very strong team, and we played them in the group stage. In the final, it will definitely be hard.

“We are the outsiders but I believe in our team.”

Tajikistan took just three minutes to find the net through Ozodbek Panzhiev’s strike off a corner and frustrated Korea Republic for the most part of the half before the East Asians leveled the score in the 38th minute through Yoon Suk-ju’s header.

"When we scored a quick goal, we tried to keep the score in our favour, but the opponents at the end of the first half managed to restore parity,” said Rakhimov.

Japan have shown their ability to win matches despite falling behind as well as their pedigree to play under pressure against Asia’s best.

The young Samurai Blue conceded early goals against Thailand (1st minute) and Australia (8th) but displayed maturity to fight back, eventually beating the Southeast Asians 5-2 and the Joeys 3-1.

Against Australia, Japan were trailing by a goal at half-time and Nishikawa, who came on as a second half substitute, was influential in dictating the pace of the game as they rallied to beat the Joeys at the National Stadium.

The semi-final ended 1-1 with Khasanov saving Son Ho-jun's penalty and Muhammadrasul Litfullaev then stepped up to score the winner as Tajikistan, who will play in their first AFC U-16 Championship final, set up a meeting with Japan at the National Stadium on Sunday.

Tajikistan, who defeated DPR Korea 4-2 in a shootout with Khasanov saving two penalties to reach the semi-finals, started positively and pressured their opponents into conceding a free-kick on the left flank as early as the first minute.

Ozodbek Panzhiev then gave Tajikistan a dream start two minutes later when he scored from close range following Nodoyor Zabirov's set-piece as the Central Asians became the first side in the competition to score against Korea Republic.

 

Japan will play Tajikistan in Sunday's final after the Central Asians defeated Korea Republic in the other semi-final.

Australia got off to a dream start when Noah Botic converted a seventh minute penalty but a second half brace from Toyama Shoji and one from Shunsuke Mito took Japan to within one match of a third AFC U-16 Championship title.

Australia made four changes from their quarter-final starting lineup but maintained livewire Botic, while Japan only kept four players from their 2-1 win against Oman, fielding Yusuke Aoki and Shoji to bolster their attack.

Japan held the upper hand in the opening minutes with their heavy pressing but Trevor Morgan’s side kept their composure and soaked up the pressure.

Their Malaysia 2018 campaign may have been ended by the 3-1 defeat to Japan in the semi-finals on Thursday but this, said Morgan, is just the start of their journey to the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru. 

“For us, the challenge before we go to the World Cup is to solve what happens next,” said Morgan at the post-match press conference on Thursday. 

“To be fitter, to be smarter with our decision making and bettering all of our quality. It was a good lesson for us.”